200 Thai tourists stranded after quake
Indonesian authorities are rescuing hundreds of tourists, including 200 Thais, stranded at Mount Rinjani National Park, a famous tourist destination in Lambok, Indonesia, after it was hit by a magnitude 6.4 earthquake in the morning which left at least 14 people killed and 40 injured.
While most of the tourists fled the area safely, many were stranded because of landslides triggered by a series of aftershocks after the quake. The Thai embassy in Jakarta said there are 200 Thais stranded around Lake Segara Anak, although they are reported to be safe and staying in tents, with many still on their way out of the mountain area.
There have been no reported Thai deaths. Rescuers are being sent to evacuate people in four areas: Bayan (North Lombok), Sembalun, Sambelia and Brang Rea (East Lombok). However, some areas cannot be reached yet, according to the embassy.
Of the Thais stranded at the mountain, most are in a group and are accompanied by Indonesian tour guides, according to a statement by the embassy. The Thai government is coordinating with Indonesian authorities to assist those who are stranded.
Thanapon Worawutchainan, a 25-year-old Thai tourist who was at the summit during the quake, said the ground shook violently and people decided to lie down and wait for the tremor to stop.
Mr Thanapon said six Thais at the summit fell during landslides resulting from the quake, but all of them survived and were able to climb back up.
“We were so terrified; we gathered under the tree to pray,” said Anuwat Kongko, another Thai tourist who was also at the summit during the quake.
After the tremors finally stopped, the tourists fled the area and made their way back down to the village, Mr Thanapon said.
“It took us around six hours to come down but we ran all the way without stopping because we were too terrified to stop.”
JAKARTA: A shallow, magnitude 6.4 earthquake early yesterday killed at least 14 people and injured 162 on Indonesia’s Lombok Island, a popular tourist destination next to Bali, officials said.
The quake damaged dozens of singlestory houses and taller buildings and was felt in a wider area, including in Bali, where no damage or casualties were reported.
The US Geological Survey said the quake struck at a depth of 7 kilometres.
East Lombok district was the hardest hit with eight deaths, including a Malaysian national, said a spokesman for Indonesia’s Disaster Mitigation Agency, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho. The number of casualties could increase as data was still being collected from other locations on the island, he said.
The quake also triggered a large landslide from Mount Rinjani. Authorities were still monitoring its impact.
In East Lombok and the provincial capital of Mataram, it lasted about 10 seconds, sending residents to flee their homes onto streets and fields, Mr Nugroho said. He said most of the fatalities and injuries were caused by falling slabs of concrete.
Photos released by the agency showed damaged houses and the entrance to the popular Mount Rinjani National Park, which was immediately closed for fear of landslides.
Like Bali, Lombok is known for pristine beaches and mountains. Hotels and other buildings in both locations are not allowed to exceed the height of coconut trees.
Indonesia is prone to earthquakes due to its location on the Pacific “Ring of Fire’’, an arc of volcanoes and fault lines in the Pacific Basin.